Legislature convenes for second session

Senators returned to the State Capitol Jan. 7 to begin the second session of the 109th Nebraska Legislature.

Addressing an estimated $471 million budget deficit is expected to dominate the session.

Senators also may revisit restricting access to school and state agency bathrooms and locker rooms based on a person’s sex assigned at birth and limiting scheduled increases to the state’s minimum wage.

New bills will be introduced for the first 10 days of the session, or until Jan. 21.

Gov. Jim Pillen will give his State of the State address Jan. 15, followed Jan. 22 by Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Funke’s State of the Judiciary address.

Committee hearings are set to begin Jan. 20 and continue through Feb. 27.

Live coverage of the legislative session is available at NebraskaLegislature.gov, where the public may also find information on bills, the legislative calendar and Nebraska state senators.

Lawmakers will reconvene Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. to continue introduction of new bills. The session is tentatively scheduled to adjourn April 17.